The Beginning of a Legend: The Chronicles of Gil-Lael

The Beginning of a Legend

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles or reviews.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2021 N. R. Williams

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication:

Idedicate this book to my grandson, Ian, whom I modeled Prince Carmel after. And also, to my family and critique partners without whom I’d be less of an author. All my love and appreciation.

And to my readers, your continued support makes my day.

Contents:

Destiny   Chapter 1

Sinking Island   Chapter 2

Announcement  Chapter 3

Training   Chapter 4

Mental Shield   Chapter 5

Symberveen   Chapter 6

A Voice of Power  Chapter 7

Hidden Thoughts  Chapter 8

Lysandra   Chapter 9

Captain Conandus  Chapter 10

Pyllirath   Chapter 11

Journey   Chapter 12

The Festival of Souls  Chapter 13

A Wise Man   Chapter 14

Hostel in Thornbury  Chapter 15

Men of Arms   Chapter 16

Menagerie   Chapter 17

Employed   Chapter 18

Escort    Chapter 19

Meet Up   Chapter 20

The Power of the Créateur Chapter 21

Rose    Chapter 22

Hidden    Chapter 23

Sorrow    Chapter 24

Pending War   Chapter 25

Preparations   Chapter 26

Recruitment   Chapter 27

Mission   Chapter 28

Captured   Chapter 29

Rehabilitation   Chapter 30

Sacrifice   Chapter 31

Epilogue

Destiny

Chapter 1

Arnoux leaned back in the chair, crossed his legs at the ankle, and rested his head against his folded fingers, grinning. Tonight was the Festival of St. John. The entire village had come together to feast in the common building and relate the story of how they came to be on a floating island. In his twenty years, he’d never tired of the retelling and watched his father scoop another one of the young children in the air, gently rocking him back and forth, his little legs swooping one way and then the other while he giggled.

The entire earth shook, René Descombes said.

Arnoux’s father lowered the child to the floor. He released him and lifted his arms in the air. The white cliffs of France broke and fell. He made a loud crashing noise and used his hands to show the great slabs of rock falling on their tiny village.

Then, the ocean sucked backward, and a huge wave swallowed our beach and the hills, turning our village into a single-hilled town. Once again, he rolled his arms to indicate the water crashing into the land. Then, bending forward, he reached out with his fingers to tickle several of the children who screamed and ran around in a circle.

One of the older children yelled, And now we are floating far away from France.

His father pointed to that boy. Right you are. No one had ever lived on a floating island before.

Arnoux knew that the actual events had been horrifying. His mother had told the tale in far more terrifying detail. He also knew that this marked his twentieth birthday, for he’d been born the next day.

Another member of the village stood to tell how their feast had been ruined that night. Arnoux looked at his adoptive brother sitting next to him. Carmel was the older of the two by several years. Long lashes framed his black eyes and his skin color was perpetually tan and the reason he’d been named Carmel. Arnoux’s own eyes were almost amber instead of brown. Not only were they brothers, but the best of friends.

Arnoux turned back, the woman who was speaking didn’t have his father’s gift of entertaining, and the room had become silent.

Arnoux.

He turned to look behind him, but the woman who had spoken his name wasn’t there. He shook his head and turned back. Carmel turned as well before giving him a quizzical look. Did you hear that?

Hear what?

A woman called my name, Carmel said.

Arnoux sat up. Me too.

Come down to the beach in the morning.

They both turned to look behind them, but no one was there. Dread filled Arnoux, who gazed at his brother, who returned his look with furrowed black brows.

IN THE MORNING, ARNOUX left his parent’s hut along with Carmel and headed toward the milking barn. The sun lifted over the far eastern hill, turning the cumulous clouds purple, crimson, pink, orange, and yellow. A breeze touched his cheek and brought the scent of apple blossoms and newly turned soil to him.

The barn wasn’t far. As they walked, they could see a number of their friends heading toward the building. All the young men helped with the cows, tilling the soil and planting. The maidens fed the animals and collected eggs from the chickens.

Arnoux.

He stopped. Carmel stepped past him and then turned. His furrowed brow told Arnoux that he’d heard the woman too.

Again? Arnoux asked.

Oui.

Come now to the western shore.

Arnoux hesitated. Should we?

The others can handle the milking. Carmel gazed at him before walking back the other way. Arnoux joined his side.

The small cottage they shared with their parents and sisters was located at the top of a hill. The milking barn was east of the house, and the apple orchard was west at the bottom of the hill and hid the ocean from view. Both young men soon found themselves in among the fragrant trees. The path led them past a dozen or more apple trees to the shore. They stepped out onto the sandy beach expecting to see the ocean, but it was gone. Instead, a new land stretched before them, connecting their island to it by a low stream.

The unbelievable sight had both young men staring first one way and then the other. Nothing but a birch wood forest could be seen. Where’d the ocean go?

Across the way stood a small woman and several men, dressed in subdued green tunics and brown pants, and the woman stood in a brilliant white gown, the like to which Arnoux had never seen.

I am Queen Táwien, come and join me, and we will talk.

Her voice had a sing-song quality, and her French was passable. Arnoux looked at his brother, who shrugged. Neither moved.

Come.

It was a command. They both stepped into the river, which was ankle deep, and crossed. Now that they were closer, they noted that the woman and men had peculiar ears which pointed and deep green eyes highlighted by brows that lifted into their foreheads.

Arnoux wasn’t sure how to ask the question that churned in his mind.

She must have guessed, for she spoke again. We are elves.

Elves? A folk tale came to him about small people who kidnapped children. But he wasn’t a child anymore. Why would they want him?

Welcome to Anora of the Elves. The queen turned and headed toward the birchwood forest that spread out before them. Arnoux didn’t voice his doubts, though he wondered if he should have. Instead, he followed the woman into the woodland, Carmel at his side.

The forest was sparse. Once Arnoux entered, he heard a sound as if the wind had picked up and the limbs of the trees were thrashing. But there wasn’t wind. He stopped and turned. The thin woodland had closed in on itself, becoming thick, and their home was no longer visible. His heart began to jump erratically, and he wanted to dash back.

Do not fear.

Arnoux turned again to see Táwien gazing at him.

The others may not follow without permission.

Despite her reassurance, anxiety gripped him, making it difficult to move.

Come, she said.

His body responded, and he walked behind her again, Carmel at his side. The other elves stepped near, perhaps as many as thirty.

Here and there, bushes sprang up alongside the trees. Flowers grew. Their colors were more vibrant than he’d ever seen. The scent of the woodland was of fresh black earth and sweet flowers. Butterflies lifted from leaves and flew between them. Some landed on the queen’s shoulders and hair as she passed.

A short distance later, they came to a flowering hedge.

The queen paused before the center of the shrub and spoke in her own language. Tinénduil.  The bushes moved, creaking until there was an opening.

She stepped through. Come.

Arnoux and Carmel followed entering a concealed meadow surrounded by the same shrubbery. A sense stillness settled on his shoulders.

Táwien walked across the meadow to the other side and once again demanded the bush to open. When they passed through, Arnoux saw that they stood in yet another field with tiny flowers growing here and there. A vast lake wasn’t far off, and the trees were all oak. Giant gnarled limbs stretched skyward, and the scent of the place was that of magnolias, the name foreign to him until he realized that the queen had whispered it into his ear. 

Sit, and we will talk. 

Arnoux lowered himself to the ground and folded his legs together. Carmel did the same.

Táwien settled herself on the ground before them, her skirt flowing around her. I saw you before I sent the earthquake while your parents yet lived in France.

You sent the quake? Carmel asked.

Wait, how could you see me, I hadn’t yet been born?

I see many things, Táwien said. The past as well as the future. And yes, it was I who sent the quake and the high tide.

This was way too much for Arnoux to fathom. How can that be?

She lifted her staff that rested in the grass and hadn’t been there before this. I have the power to bend worlds together. She set it down, and the ground rumbled around them. 

I knew the two of you would be brave men, gentle and kind. You Arnoux faithful and true, and you Carmel, a leader of men. In your journey here, I have been with you. I know how your father has cared for you and taught you to read and care for others. Your father is a remarkable man and has given each of you all that you will need in the trials ahead.

He frowned, uncertain what to think.

Táwien motioned toward the lake nearby, and when he looked, Arnoux found that he and his brother were sitting before it. How’d that happened?

My lake shows me many things. There are others of your world who have already arrived.

Where are they?

They have settled all along the eastern shore of this land, outside our border, as you will do. In time you will come to know them all. But for now, I must deliver a warning.

Warning? Carmel asked.

Time settled about Arnoux as if it were a blanket. Everyone vanished, and he only saw the clear blue waters of the lake. Sand and small rocks were beneath the water and even a few fish. He heard Táwien speaking, and as she did so, images rose and fell in the lake. First, he saw France and the white cliffs his parents had told him about. Then the quake and the shift in their lives. Flashes of his life growing up on their floating island came to him. Then...this world, this new world came, and his body flew above it all. The country was vast with rivers and lakes, mountains, and plains. Many creatures roamed the woodland and grasslands. Some he knew and a few he’d never seen before. Giant eagles soared above it all, and men worked to plow the fields and build cities.

A great black cloud rose into the air from a large house in a northern village as he watched. Soon the town was swallowed, and the cloud stretched across the world, touching almost every inch of it save for the east coast and Anora. A huge man stood within the darkness, controlling it as the world fell before him.

Crowds worshiped him, bringing gifts of gold and jewels. His voice rang in Arnoux’s head. I am your Emperor. Obey me or die. And then, he saw hundreds of men, women, and children being murdered, sacrificed.

A sucking sensation pulled Arnoux from the vision, and he once again sat before Táwien with Carmel beside him.

This world is called Drak-Zeladan. The evil warlock who calls himself emperor is Druas-Bradwr. We need your help to defeat him.

Arnoux stood. His movement so sudden he nearly fell back down. I have no power for such a thing.

You have a good heart, and that is all the power you need.

A good heart? Carmel frowned. "Forgive me, my Queen, no evil has ever been defeated by a good heart."

As you say. Please, both of you sit again, and I will explain.

Arnoux wanted to leave but in a land of magic that seemed impossible. Instead, he glanced with concern at Carmel, who also looked worried, and they sat together.

Your kindness isn’t needed against Drus-Bradwr. Rather, you are needed to unite the people and form an army.

We aren’t trained in warfare, Carmel said.

"As you say, but I will train you. My elfin warriors are experts. But first, the island on which you arrived will sink into the ocean this night. Return home and lead your people from it, travel east along our border until you reach a valley surrounded by hills and pine wood. Once you are settled, I will send my warriors to you. Collect as many of your people that are willing as you can, and we